Confused, could use some help

[JustAJ]

I live with a very catholic family and go to a private catholic school but recently i turned 17 and started questioning everything iv been told and don't think I believe in any god.  I know I sound like an idiot and this is probubly in the wrong forum but I don't know any atheist that I could talk to and I'm just wondering where to start or what to do. Just trying to find like minded people who could help me in he begining stage.  


(sorry if I sound stupid and for spelling)

[Asmodean]

You don't sound like an idiot - just like someone facing something new and unsure from which side to approach.

A good starting point is being honest with yourself about your beliefs. Keep questioning what you see or hear and make up your own mind. "Coming out" can be a bit more complicated, but finding like-minded people, even if online, is a good first step towards doing that too.

[Tank]

I live with a very catholic family and go to a private catholic school but recently i turned 17 and started questioning everything iv been told and don't think I believe in any god.  I know I sound like an idiot and this is probubly in the wrong forum but I don't know any atheist that I could talk to and I'm just wondering where to start or what to do. Just trying to find like minded people who could help me in he begining stage.  


(sorry if I sound stupid and for spelling)

You don't sound stupid at all, you're questioning your world view and that is quite often a good thing. Spelling ain't perfect but good enough to get your message over, don't worry about it.

I've never believed in the existance of the supernatural or in any god so I do find it difficult to help people in your position as I haven't been there. However many here have been where you are, a complete revision of their world view. Hold on to this thought though, when you take god out of your world view you start seeing the world as it really is and it isn't always nice, it isn't always nasty, it just is.

To date you have been told that everything has a purpose and a reason, the trouble is that in reality nothing has a reason nor a purpose, except that which it makes for itself. What that reason or purpose is depends on the items self awareness. Just like all inanimate matter a rock has no purpose. Bacteria and viruses just make more of themselves as do most organic organisms. There are a limited number of creatures that appear to be self aware most (all?) are mammals and include dolphins, elephants and the great apes of which we are one species. We appear to have a very high degree of self awareness, certainly sufficient to be aware of our own ultimate mortality. Our existance is finite. We have no awareness of anything before our birth nor after our death, we have a brief window on the universe. What you do between arriving at adulthood and passing away is down to you and only you.

A lot of what you have been taught so far in school is probably good in making you a thoughtful and considerate member of society, thoughtfulness for others being the most important ideal as 'The Golden Rule' protects us all and in my opinion creates a world worth living in while we all have a life to live. The goals you have been set at school are too high for any human to achieve, that does not mean they not good to aspire to, just don't be to hard on yourself when you fall short as none of us are perfect, we are all unique. We are born with a base suit of genetically endowed capabilities, these are built on by the ideas we are exposed to and shaped by our experiences and our reflection on those ideas and experiences. So not only are we all unique we are all mutable. I am basically the same person I was at 17 but at 50 I hope I have grown into something different and I hope better than I was at 17.

You are at the very beginning of your adult life and in the words on the cover of a famous book 'Don't Panic!' You are realising that the world isn't quite how it has been explained to you. Don't worry it'll all be all right in the end. Don't worry about the big stuff you can't possibly influence, worry about the small stuff, the day-to-day stuff, like being polite but assertive when asked about your beliefs. If you tell somebody about your world view and they start to abuse you that says a lot more about their bad manners and bad upbringing than your world view.

Take a few deep breaths, 'Don't Panic!' and ask and explain all you want.

Welcome to a new world view, welcome aboard!

[kelltrill]

The important thing is that you are asking questions. To believe something blindly or because you are told to is no way to live life. You need to find personal meaning for your life based on what you know about yourself and your own values and opinions. Only that way will you lead the best life possible for yourself and for those around you